Marshall University (dark jerseys) beat Miami University (white jerseys) 21-16 on Sept. 11, 1976, at Fairfield Stadium. The 1976 team had a 5-6 record under coach Frank Ellwood. Team captains were John "Fuzzy" Filliez and Billy Yanossy.

"Miami was nationally ranked, and we stunk, but somehow we beat them," said Marc Williams. "The stands actually started filling up after halftime when word got around town that we were beating Miami (recall that Miami beat us 66-6 the year after the plane crash. They ran up the score on a team made up of walk-ons and freshmen. That is why Marshall fans hate Miami to this day). After the game, (wire service) UPI asked for the game score to be resent because they thought it was an error."

Other games notes, courtesy of Woody Woodrum:

"The score of the game should have been 21-9, but on the last play of the game, Miami fumbled," he said. "It was picked up by J.C. Felton and run into end zone for a touchdown. No extra point was kicked, as the crowd poured onto the Astroturf at Fairfield Stadium. The referees gave Miami the point to set the final at 21-16."

"Defensively, Miami was held to its fewest first downs (14), fewest total yards (279), fewest rushes (27) and fewest rushing yards (166) of the season. Miami-Ohio's Redskins fumbled six times, losing four, and hit only 7 of 26 passes for 95 yards," he said.

"QB Herman 'Bud' Nelson had a great day against Miami-Ohio. His 30 rushes was one short of the then school record, and his offensive attempts were a season-best 42. He hit 9 of 12 passing for 95 yards and two touchdowns, both to Ray Crisp.

"John 'Fuzzy' Filliez, captain, set an NCAA record with catches in 42 consecutive games by end of season. He led the Herd with five catches (35 yards) but "Little Ray" had 60 yards on four catches.

"Nelson rushed 30 times (including sacks) for 64 yards while Mike Bailey had 15 for 39 yards and the late TD.

"It was Marshall's first win over Miami-Ohio since Cam Henderson's Marshall team beat them in 1939. Miami was ranked #20 in the nation. It was Marshall's first win over a ranked team.

"Miami's Rob Carpenter was a running back who was thrown out of the game in the late fourth quarter for unsportsmanlike conduct. He went on to a great NFL career with the Houston Oilers and New York Giants.

"On Sunday night after the Miami win, Marshall improved to 2-0 on the season when Morehead State, who had earlier ripped MU 31-14 at Jayne Stadium in Morehead, Ky., in the opener, had to forfeit the win due to using ineligible players."

The 1976 team had a 5-6 record under coach Frank Ellwood. Team captains were John "Fuzzy" Filliez and Billy Yanossy.

From 1966 to 1983, Marshall's football program suffered a dismal streak of losing seasons. In 1984, Marshall won its two final games on the road against Illinois State and East Tennessee State to finish with a 6-5 record for its first winning season in 20 years.

We are cracking open the archives from past Marshall University football seasons. What game would you like to see again? E-mail online editor Andrea Copley-Smith at acopley@herald-dispatch.com.

1976 Marshall University football roster from the media guide. Extra information courtesy of Woody Woodrum

10, Larry Berkery, QB, Junior, Sarasota, Fla. (Drafted by the Chicago White Sox out of high school, he - in the outfield - and Bob Birch helped the Herd to win the Southern Conference baseball crown in 1978 and advanced to the NCAA Regionals, where MU beat Clemson and Florida State before falling twice to Miami-Fla. at Coral Gables)

36, Charlie Perry, P, Freshman, Point Pleasant, W.Va. (He had a season-best 56-yard punt against Miami and kept them bottled up all day with 45.8 yards per punt average on six punts).

37, Bob Campbell, FB, Sophomore, East Bank, W.Va. (He and Howie Harris played on East Bank state championship team coach by Marshall assistant coach Don Arthur. He still lives and works in Huntington.)

41, Ray "Little Ray" Crisp, WR/KR/PR, Sophomore, Lima, Ohio (had a pair of touchdowns receiving. His brothers, Dave and George, also played at Marshall. His dad, Ray Sr., was one of the first African-Americans on the freshman team at Marshall in 1955, but suffered a broken leg and never played on the varsity.)

79, Howie Harris, OT, Freshman, East Bank, W.Va. (Part of what I like to call the "Hodges Hall Mafia" of Mike Hamrick - Harris, Bob Campbell, Mike Johnson and Dan Wells are his guys, and we all live in Hodges in the 1970s)

80, Hobart Phillips, OLB, Freshman, Northfork, W.Va.

82, Bob "Bob-Low" Phillips, OLB, Sophomore, Columbus, Ohio.

84, Mike "Nose" Natale, TE, Freshman, Irwin, Pa. (Married to Marshall Hall of Famer Diana Carter. They attend all MU games at UAB, as they live near Birmingham.)